Bellingham athletic director job still under discussion

School officials may reduce by several thousand dollars the incoming athletic director’s salary to deal with budget constraints.

By Matt Tota/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

By Matt Tota/Daily News staff

Posted Apr. 23, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Apr 23, 2013 at 11:04 PM

By Matt Tota/Daily News staff

Posted Apr. 23, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Apr 23, 2013 at 11:04 PM

BELLINGHAM

» Social News

School officials may reduce by several thousand dollars the incoming athletic director’s salary to deal with budget constraints.

Superintendent Edward Fleury said the change is being considered as a "cost-saving measure" for officials piecing together the fiscal year 2014 budget.

The school district has been searching for a new athletic director to succeed Leo Dalpe, who’ll retire in July.

In March, the salary range was $70,000 and $80,000, according to a job posting.

However, Fleury and members of the budget sub-committee later chose to cut the salary to a sum that should not exceed $55,000 — one of a number of creative strategies they employed to produce a "level-service" budget.

They have also floated the possibility of hiring a retired AD who would be better served working on a part-time basis.

"Until the budget is approved, I’m not sure if it will be a full-time position or a reduced position," said Fleury.

Prior to the salary adjustment, though, a screening committee had already selected five finalists for the soon-to-be-vacant job, pulling from a pool of more than 100 candidates.

Fleury planned to hold an open forum so the public could meet each candidate. But he’s now frozen the entire review process while school officials continue to pore over the $20.9 million FY ’14 proposed budget.

And he has not decided whether he will repost the opening or move forward with the five candidates.

Dalpe, who has spent 39 years in the school district, announced his retirement late last year.

The 60-year-old took the reins of the school system’s athletic department in 2007 after he volunteered for a decade as an assistant under then-AD Dennis Baker; before that, he taught social studies.

Dalpe's successor will likely begin on July 1. Dalpe has agreed to stay on until July 19 to help with the transition.

Matt Tota can be reached at 508-634-7521 or mtota@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattTotaMDN.